Times Internet (Indiatimes.com) has launched a daily deal website TimesDeal.com on April 29, 2011. The website currently offers deals in six Indian cities that include Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi-NCR, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai. The group already operates Active Deals, a mobile deals and discount service from Indiatimes 58888, the mobile arm of Times Internet and had recently introduced the service on WAP in 25 cities across India.

“Active Deals is an independent business unit that focuses on the mobile consumer, partnering with operators. It also has a different business model, based around giving customers deals without having them pay anything for each deal. They both have great business prospects and will continue to operate as they do today,” an Indiatimes spokesperson has told AlooTechie.

The idea behind launching TimesDeal was to create a new connect with the advertisers in India, and offer them a different way to reach customers in their area. “By bringing excitement and buzz to a regular destination, we'll give customers deals they can't get anywhere else, and give merchants and advertisers a new medium to connect with consumers, the spokesperson added.